Terrific non-TV Toys: "The Peanuts Movie" Happy Meal Toys, McDonald's, 2015

Didya catch the big-screen "Peanuts Movie" a few years back? Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Sally and all the gang, along with our beloved beagle? Well, McDonald's was in on the fun, rolling out a line of Happy Meal Toys celebrating the movie's release. BRBTV did not collect all of them, but we got quite a few, and in this season finale episode of Terrific non-TV Toys for 2024, we show not only those but also throw in a bonus item -- one toy from the Snoopy NASA set. 

See the other episodes in the Terrific non-TV Toys series.

Those beloved Gloria Vanderbilt jeans show up again -- this time on "Soap"

If you've ever seen this author's Pinterest account, you know I'm a big fan of Gloria Vanderbilt jeans. Since my very first pair in junior high school in the early 1980s, I've owned many, many over the years, along with shirts, shoes, purses, cologne, dishware and anything else Gloria I can get my hands on. Ms. Vanderbilt, who passed away in her 90s in 2019, remains one of my personal heroes. So, as I've been making my way through rewatchings -- or first-time watchings -- of great classic TV shoes on Tubi and other likeminded streaming apps, I've been very delighted to see GVs pop up on many of the characters of that late '70s, early '80s timeframe. I blogged before about Janet and Chrissy wearing them on "Three's Company." I blogged about the gals of "Facts of Life," particularly in the first season, wearing them in all colors. And now, for the past few weeks I've been watching the '70s comedy "Soap" for the first time, and guess what I see on Corinne in the second season:

I'm tickled pink! Or gray or whatever color they are, with white stitching! (Truth be told, they look like they could be the lavender fine cords I got in junior high school, with white stitching. Those came from the mail-order Alden's catalog -- remember Alden's?) Anyway, the above shot is from S2E8 of the series. Then, in episode 19 of the same season, Corinne sported another pair of colored GVs, this time a forest green with white stitching (the image below captured them as a very similar color as the pair above, but they were more green):

She wore that pair again in the following episode. This was in 1979, as GVs were riding high in our pop culture, helping lead the charge for the popularity of designer jeans.

I'll keep watching for more!

Six Feet Under Hollywood: Arnold Horshack!

Wow, we had almost forgotten that he illustrated Wesley Eure's children's book, and we didn't really know the details of his death (and even the rest of his life). But BRBTV certainly enjoyed his performance as Arnold Horshack on "Welcome Back, Kotter." This author just did a rewatch of the whole series on Tubi -- the first time I've really watched the series since its original airing. So this time on Brian's Six Feet Under Hollywood blog, it's Ron Paolillo's turn in the spotlight (and note the variance in the last name, which you can see on his grave) ...

Six Feet Under Hollywood: Arnold Horshack!:   Ronald Gabriel Paolillo was born in New Haven, Connecticut on April 2, 1949. He was the son of Gabriel and Carmel, the former of whom ...

A video tour through the former Eloise Asylum

In June on this very blog you saw some photos of this author's historical tour of the former Eloise facility in Westland, Michigan, commonly called Eloise Psychiatric Hospital or Eloise Asylum. The videos from that tour have been dropping weekly on my secondary YouTube channel, and they're now complete. These clips go in order from the lobby of the Kay Beard Building (once referred to as the "D" building) all the way up to the fifth (top) floor, where the most dangerous patients were once housed -- the criminally insane.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take your own tour of Eloise Asylum.

Subscribe to see other fun and sometimes kooky travel videos from here, there and everywhere (even Egypt).

Catch the newest episode of "Reanimated"

 
The undead are out in full force as a few of our survivors take refuge in a remote cabin for episode 8 of the "Reanimated" web series. And things aren't looking too good for this author's character, Blanche Lancaster. She was injured in a helicopter crash in an earlier episode, and that wound to her abdomen continues to get worse. And now? We'll you'll just have to watch and see.

Terrific TV Toys: "Dallas" trading cards, Donruss, 1981

Trading cards were really a thing back in the 1970s and '80s, and TV shows were popular subjects for them. The latest episode of the T3 series shows you a couple packs of trading cards celebrating the classic primetime soap "Dallas." There's ole J.R. Ewing, even daddy Jock Ewing and mom Miss Ellie, Sue Ellen, Bobby, Pam, Lucy -- all the regular characters we know and love. They're featured in full-color still shots from episodes of the show. We'll open one pack on camera and keep the other sealed. (But don't worry -- the thoroughly petrified piece of bubble gum is long gone!) 

Special shout-out to Alex, our fellow "Dallas" fan!

See what else is on the Terrific TV Toys playlist.

Happy Halloween from BRBTV! Stay safe!

ElectraWow and DynaMite: Can you believe Judy Strangis owns her DynaGirl costume?

It was a reunion of the two gals from classic Saturday-morning TV's "ElectraWoman and DynaGirl" over the weekend, and our buddy Brian was there -- and he even filed a report with BRBTV.

At an autograph show in New Jersey over the weekend, Brian, shown above in his Gilligan cosplay, got a chance to chat with Deidre Hall, left, and Judy Strangis, the stars of the iconic superhero series. They're looking great, he reported, first of all, but he also asked them about their amazing so-'70s costumes from the show, all awash in eye-catching oranges and yellows. What happened to the costumes? What were they like? How many costumes did each gal get for the filming? 

BRBTV was guessing it was "one" for the latter question, given the short time frame that the series aired, along with the minimalist's budgets that shows produced by the Kroffts were known for (admittedly, by brothers Sid and Marty). Well, yeah, Judy said, she just had one DynaGirl costume for the filming -- and she owns it now! So fun!

Judy didn't always own the outfit, though, she told Brian. A friend gifted her with it recently. She has the costume framed at her home (which Lynda Carter, by the way, has  done with her own screen-used Wonder Woman costume, though she had more than one for filming; Heroes and Icons recently reported that she actually owns two of the costumes). 

Of Judy, "Her husband/handler told me he has yet to see her wear it," Brian said. (Perhaps that was a bit of a joke on the hub's part, but it's adorable.) Deidre Hall, who went on after the show to much fame on daytime soaps, does not have her own ElectraWoman costume, however, she said.

Two modern photos courtesy of Brian Lombard; please do not copy without permission.

Six Feet Under Hollywood: Stephanie Zimbalist

A grave all set up and ready to go -- before death? Yeah, sometimes it happens, and it's part of the story of the very-much-still-living actress Stephanie Zimbalist, known for her work on the classic TV show "Remington Steele." Read more in the latest installment of the Six Feet Under Hollywood blog ...

Six Feet Under Hollywood: Stephanie Zimbalist:   "I have a personal connection with my Savior...I feel very beholden to Him...I feel He's there for me in my darkest moments." ...

Terrific non-TV Toys: "DCeased" Batgirl figure, DC Direct, 2022-2023

Since Halloween is right around the corner, why don't we take a look at something nice and creepy for the latest episode of the Terrific non-TV Toys series? This is a Batgirl figure from DC Direct and DC Essentials' "DCeased" line, based on the 2019 comic book series of the same name. Babsie is a bloody sight to behold, for sure, looking like she stepped off the pages of the Walking Dead comic series rather than the DC Universe. 

See the other episodes in the Terrific non-TV Toys series.

Quick shot of Erica Durance just because

Our friend Brian is at the “Smallville” con in New Jersey this weekend and shared with BRBTV this shot of the panel discussion with the beautiful Erica Durance, who of course was the beautiful and feisty Lois Lane on the series. Thanks, Brian! Have fun!

(Learn more at https://www.creationent.com/cal/smv_nj/index.htm)

Photo courtesy of Brian; please do not copy without permission

Terrific TV Toys: "Star Trek" fleece throw kit by Eugene Textiles, 2016; "Picard" cap, 2019; Vegas con bag, 2021

You ever jump into something that you think is going to take like five minutes and it ends up taking hours? Well, my buddy Brian gave me a wonderful goodie bag of "Star Trek" items the last time I saw him, and inside that bag was this "Star Trek" fleece throw blanket from Eugene Textiles that I thought I was going to feature nice and quick-like on an episode of the T3 series. Yeah, right ... I missed that part that said some assembly was required. This was not a fleece throw -- this was a fleece throw kit. As in, put it together! OK, fine, so I paused the camera a few times and muddled through. You'll see the results in the latest episode of the collectibles series, and you'll even see the finished product! If you've never put together one of these fleece throw kits (am I saying that right? maybe it's throw fleece kits!), it actually is rather enjoyable, and it can be a group activity, like maybe a family activity. Just make sure the kids are safe with scissors that are nice and sharp!

Another item in the goodie bag Brian gave me is a cap bearing the insignia for the "Star Trek: Picard" series, which I have not yet watched but will someday watch, I'm sure, being a hard-core "Trek" fan who plans to view all "Trek" ever produced. Then there is the bag itself, which is a cool keepsake from a recent "Star Trek" Las Vegas con (no doubt the 2021 con, judging from the imprint on the bag).

Thanks again, Brian!!!!

See what else is on the Terrific TV Toys playlist.

An almost-forgotten appearance on the "Fave Five From Fans" podcast

This author came across it almost accidentally, the YouTube version of a podcast recorded nearly a couple years ago. But this one was a fun one to do, discussing the villains of the 1966 "Batman" TV series with fellow fan Jamie Ray. Jamie had done the "Pop Ninja" Halloween episode with me, Patrick and Lisa in 2021, and that's when he invited me to do his own podcast, since I was wearing the Yvonne Craig Batgirl costume at the time and was clearly quite the fan. 

So was Joan Collins channeling a very early Alexis Colby as she slithered around the "Batman" set as the Siren? You can decide -- it comes up for discussion here, along with a lot of discussion of Julie Newmar's portrayal of Catwoman. Thanks, Jamie, for posting this!

Terrific non-TV Toys: Tuesday Taylor, Super Model walking version, Ideal, 1978

If you're a kid of the 1970s and you've ever heard the names Tuesday Taylor and Tiffany Taylor -- and especially if you've heard them used interchangeably -- you might be a tad confused. Who was Tiffany? Who was Tuesday? Were they related? Cousins or something? Sisters??? 

This author has to admit to some confusion around these brand names from Ideal, because I remembered they were both fashion dolls much like Barbie, and I remembered my mom bought me one of them when I was a kid, and I remembered there were other styles of that same doll out there that had a hair-color-changing trick they did with the turn of the top of the skull (yes, believe it), but I was unclear, after all these years, which was which. I started to think my version of the doll, which doesn't change hair color and which has a trick of her own -- walking -- was perhaps the Tiffany Taylor, then that would make the hair-color-changing version Tuesday, right? Or was it the other way around? 

Turns out, neither one of those scenarios is correct. We'll solve the mystery, as well as take a nice up-close look at this beautiful 1978 doll from my childhood, in the latest episode of the Terrific non-TV Toys series ...

See the other episodes in the Terrific non-TV Toys series.

A view from Marysville Hot Wheels Weekend

Special thanks to our roving reporter Jason for these shots from this past weekend's car show in Marysville, Michigan, the Marysville Hot Wheels Weekend. Special guests were Catherine ("Daisy Duke") Bach of "The Dukes of Hazzard" along with Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox of "CHiPs." BRBTV enjoyed that show a few years back and wish we could have made it this time! Jason certainly found a kindred spirit in this fellow "Dukes" fan, Tim, and his fab General Lee.

Photos courtesy of Jason; please do not copy without permission.

Sasquatch arrives ... just because it's fun and it's Friday

TGIF! How about a little Bigfoot to brighten your day? This is somewhere in Michigan, shot a few months ago this year.

Just Beneath the Surface takes on "Twilight Zone" episode "The Obsolete Man"

Our friend Brian and his friend Bruce have done it again -- after some time away, they've posted another discussion of a wonderful classic "Twilight Zone" episode as part of their "Just Beneath the Surface" web series. This is one of the Burgess Meredith episodes, and in this one he's living his life in a way that does not suit the powers that be (government). He is planned to be liquidated. This story has remarkable parallels to the world we live in right now, particularly in the area of cancel culture. Don't cancel these guys -- just listen in!

Terrific TV Toys: "Dukes of Hazzard" Cooter's tow truck 1:18, Greenlight, 2021

All those good folks rolling through the dusty backroads of Hazzard County need a tow once in a while, now don't they? And when they need a tow, they call ole Crazy Cooter. And even when they just need a few gallons of Hoggoco gasoline, they stop by Cooter's Garage. This nicely detailed toy car in 1:18 scale celebrates both those ideas. You've got the tow truck seen so often on "The Dukes of Hazzard," as well as a gas pump. So cool. 

https://youtu.be/rIQ5dzD2dEc?si=Vg9kp1-tJa760ydY 

(Who knows why YouTube's embed code feature hasn't been working the past couple days????)

This set was sold at Cooter's Place, and that's where our friend Jason -- BRBTV roving reporter -- snagged it. He walks us through this out-of-the-box experience. If you bought one of these limited-edition beauties and prefer to keep it all locked up, step vicariously with us for this unboxing.

See what else is on the Terrific TV Toys playlist.

New interview is up, and the word is out on the next "Rapture Chronicles" episode

This author is so thankful to be a part of "The Rapture Chronicles" web series and ministry, and now Season 3 is just around the corner. The title of the first episode of this new season was just released, and you can get a feel for what it's about with the brand-new poster below. Director and producer Dray Hill is doing interviews with cast and crew, and my turn was just posted on YouTube, as well. Please like, share and support this wonderful effort that is reaching people for Christ! Check out the GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/18f0da74 

A look at Cooter's 25th anniversary celebration

BRBTV was not able to make it to Luray, Virginia, this past weekend for the 25th anniversary celebration of Cooter's Place -- 25 big years since the opening of the first store by Ben ("Cooter Davenport") Jones of "The Dukes of Hazzard" and his wife, Alma. But our friend Brian was there, and he offers these great photos from the event. As you can see, there were plenty of replicas of the show's cars in attendance -- not only the General Lee (and at least one screen-used!) but also Sheriff Rosco's car, Sheriff Little's car, Cooter's tow truck, Daisy's Road Runner, and even a 00 Mustang. So cool. And is that Flash's cousin??? Many thanks, Brian!!!

Photos by Brian Lombard; please do not copy without permission

Terrific non-TV Toys: "Flash Gordon" Pop! Album with Freddie Mercury, Funko, 2022

How is it that these Funko Pop!s keep gravitating toward BRBTV headquarters? They seem to come from far and wide, and we've featured quite a few of them on the two collectible series of the BRBTV channel. For this one, we've got our longtime friend, whom we refer to as the Mysterious Claw Game Avenger Who Shall Remain Nameless, to thank. He knows when he sees something Freddie Mercury or Queen, we've got to have it. So he snagged this one in August 2023 at a Metro Detroit store. This is part of Funko's Pop! Album series, and there are some others out there that you can look up online. There's even another Queen one that looks absolutely awesome, and you'll see a pic of it at the end of this episode.

See the other episodes in the Terrific non-TV Toys series.

Six Feet Under Hollywood: Philip McKeon

When this author first saw the grave image from pal Brian's blog post, I had to wonder, knowing Philip McKeon, of course, from the TV show "Alice" ... did he and his father die at the same time? No, it turns out. His father died a few weeks earlier, and the two were buried together with this grave marker. Interesting. At any rate, you can get the story of McKeon and his career at the Six Feet Under Hollywood blog ...

..................

Six Feet Under Hollywood: Philip McKeon:   Philip Anthony McKeon was born in Westbury, New York on November 11, 1964.  When he was four years old, his parents took him and his sist...

Terrific TV Toys: Catwoman statue from "B:TAS," DC Direct, 2022

She looks like she just silently slithered out of a billionaire's penthouse pad, her jeweled prize in hand, her sleek cat Isis faithfully at her side. She's Catwoman, and above all else, she's a cat burglar. This new statue from DC Direct captures her spirit, based on artwork by Stanley Lau. She's the Catwoman of "Batman: The Animated Series," clad in gray leotard and dipped in sweet intrigue. Batman always thought he could reform her, didn't he?

See what else is on the Terrific TV Toys playlist.

Loved working with the "Rapture Chronicles" crew once again, and look for another episode soon!

Saturday was a very full day, and this author has been honored to serve as script supervisor on "The Rapture Chronicles" web series. We filmed at two different churches in Detroit, covering several scenes for the next episode of the series. Look for it soon! Learn more about the series, which focuses on the Biblical rapture at the show's Facebook page or the Churchouse Productions site.

BRB, upper left, with actors Lars J Loofboro and Bishop Staten, and in the first row, director and producer Dray Hill with his wife, Monica. Photo courtesy of Dray Hill.

Taking an eerie stroll through Eloise

Historic. Spooky. Ethereal. Abandoned. Even calm. There are lots of words you could use to describe the Eloise facility in Westland, Michigan, commonly known as Eloise Psychiatric Hospital or Eloise Asylum. Many visitors have been intrigued by the history of the huge complex, which once encompassed 902 acres and 78 buildings and now has been reduced to just a handful of buildings on a small parcel. Eloise housed thousands and thousands of patients over its lifetime of operation from 1839 to early 1982, ranging from the poor and homeless to the outright criminally insane. Though the facility was a pioneer in technologies such as the X-ray, it also was known to do treatments such as lobotomy, shock therapy and "hydrotherapy," which this author kinda doesn't even want to know the details of.

I did a tour of Eloise over the weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it. A few years back I worked as an extra in a horror film that was set there and that did some exterior filming there, "Eloise," starring Eliza Dushku and Chase Crawford, and ever since then I, too,  have been intrigued by its history. There's a lot of chatter about paranormal activity at Eloise, and there have been episodes of "Expedition X" and "Portals to Hell" shot there. I don't subscribe to any of that, as a believer in the Lord, but I am still interested in the history of the patients there and how they were treated. A lot of people in Metro Detroit know someone who was at Eloise at some point, and there are some stories.

Here are a few shots I took there on the historical tour, which you can also book at the site's Facebook page. The tour was over three hours, concentrating, of course, on the Kay Beard Building (once labeled the "D" building). There are lots more photos on my Flickr channel, and I'm going to be uploading some walking-around video to my secondary YouTube channel in the coming months.

Photos by Billie Rae Bates

Copying with credit is OK

Terrific non-TV Toys: Wonder Woman salt and pepper shaker set by Enesco, 2019

We do so much vintage stuff on the Terrific non-TV Toys series, but this time let's turn to something gleaming and new: a delightful salt and pepper shaker set in the shape of Wonder Woman and her arch-nemesis, Cheetah. Rahrrr!!! This was a super-cool gift from Bobby and Jessica.

See the other episodes in the Terrific non-TV Toys series.